Steering mechanism for motor-vehicles.



No. 695,222. Patented Mar. Il, i902.

L. P. MOOERS.

`STEERING MECHANSM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

(Application led Oct. 80, 1901.)

(No Model.)

24am/fsl UNITE @rares errar Ormes.

LOUIS P. MOOERS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE PEERLESS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION OF OHIO.

STEERING MECHANISNI FOR lVlOTOHwVEl-HCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,222, dated March 11, 1902.

Application filed October 30, 1901. Serial No. 80,487. (No model.)

T0l @ZZ 'wh/0177, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS P. MOOERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steering Mechanism for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The primary object of the invention isto provide cheap and simple mechanism for steering a motor-vehicle which maybe quickly and easily operated, but which will not permit the steering-wheels to be turned byany force applied directly to themfa s, for example, by striking obstructions in the roadway.

The invention may be here summarized as consisting of the construction and combination of parts shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of so much of a motor-vehicle as is necessary to disclose my invention. Fig. 2 is a side View, partly in section, of the steering-shaft and the parts immediately adjacent thereto. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the lower end of `the steering-shaft, the nut thereon, and the associated parts, the nut being partly in section; and Fig. l is a plan-view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the parts by letters, A A represent the steering-wheels of a motor-vehicle. Each is rotatably mounted on an axle b, constituting one arm of a bent lever B, which is connected with a suitable part of the V.running-gear by means of `a vertical pivot'bfi. The other arms b b of, these two bent levers are connected together by a link b3, through which the movement of one compels a simultaneous movement of the other bent lever. So much of the mechanism as is above described is the commonly-employed construction and any equivalent mechanism may be employed in its place.

Secured to a suitable part of the runninggear is a sleeve d, occupying an approximately upright position, but preferably inclined, substantially as shown. This sleeve is preferably an integral part of the bracket D, having the horizontal bars d, by which it `up and4 down upon said shaft.

is attached to the running-gear, and having depending ears d2, in which a rocker G is mounted. Rotatably mounted in the sleeve d, and preferably with ball-bearings, as indicated at c c, is the steering-shaft E, which projects below said sleeve and has formed upon or secured to its projecting lower end a quick-pitch screw e. Upon this screw a nut K is screwed. The rocker G consists of a forked arm g, Awhich straddles the nut'K, an arm g', and suitable connections between said arms. In the combination shown these arms g g' are both connected to a rock-shaft g2, which is mounted in the ears d2. A rod g'l connects the two forks and carries a friction-roller, which lies in the slot or notch 7c', formed by and between lugs 7c, projecting rearward from the rear face of said nut K. These sides of the fork-arm prevent the revolution of the nut, and therefore when the shaft Eis turned the nut K is caused to travel It moves the rocker G through the described connections in one direction or the other, vdepending on whether the nut travels up or down on the shaft. The arm g of the rocker is connected by a link J with a pivoted lever-arm h, which is suitably connected with the steeringwheels. In the preferable construction this lever-arm is a part of a bent lever H, which is loosely mounted upon the pivot b2, which connects one of the levers B with the runnin g-gear, said bent lever having another arm L, which is fastened to the arm b of the axlelever. The nut K is longitudinally split on one side, as at h5, and as the nut or screw wears the nut may be tightened upon the screw by the tightening-bolts k6. l

The steering-shaft E projects up through the body of the vehicle to a position where the hand-wheel e2, secured to its upper end, may be conveniently operated by a person on the seat of the vehicle. As shown, this hand- Wheel when it is in the `operative position is in the way of the operator when he is getting into or out of the vehicle. Convenient means are therefore provided by which this hand- Wheel may be temporarily moved out of its operative position. With this end in View the shaft E is made in two sections hinged IOO together on a transverse pivot, as at e", the steering-wheel e2 being fastened to the upper end of the upper section e5. When the two hinged sections are in alinement, they are so held by a sleeve N, which embraces the j oint, which sleeve is held in this position by a spring M. This spring is in the sleeve and around the shaft, and it thrusts against a flange e6 on the upper shaft-section and an internal ange n on the sleeve, whereby the sleeve is forced and held by the spring against the upper end of the lower shaft-section.

When it is desired to break the shaft, one takes hold of the vsleeve and moves it upward and then bends over the upper end of the shaft. When the upper section of the shaft is moved into alinement with the lower end, this sleeve, in uenced by its spring, automaticalljT moves downward over the joint.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In steering mechanism for motor-vehicles, the combination of a bracket adapted to be secured to the running-gear, and having an upwardly-extended inclined bearing-sleeve, a steering-shaft mounted in and projecting through said sleeve and having, at its lower end, a quick-pitch screw, and having, at its upper end, means for turning said shaft, with a nut upon the threaded end of said shaft, a rocker engaging with and adapted to be operated by said nut, `means preventing the rotation of the nut, and mechanism connecting the rocker with the steering-wheels of the vehicle, substantially as specified.

2. In steering mechanism for motor-vehicles, the combination of a sleeve, a steeringshaft mounted in and projecting through said sleeve and ha'ving, at its lower end, a quickpitch screw, and having, at its upper end, means for turning said shaft, with a nut upon the threaded end of said shaft, a rocker having a forked arm which embraces said nut, operative connections4 between the nut and fork arm, and mechanism connecting the rocker with the steering-wheels of the vehicle, substantially as specified.

3. In steering mechanism for motor-vehicles, the combination of a bracket adapted to be secured to the running-gear having an upwardly-extended inclined bearing-sleeve and depending supports for a rocker, and a steering-shaft rotatably mounted in said sleeve and projecting beyond both ends thereof and having a quick-pitch screw at its lower end and means for turning it at its upper end, with a nut upon the threaded end of said shaft, a rocker mounted in said bracket and having a forked arm which embraces said nut and is operatively connected therewith, and mechanism connecting the rocker with the steeringwheels of the vehicle, substantially as specilied. I

4. In'steering mechanism for a motor-vehifor turning said shaft, with a nut upon the threaded end of said shaft having dat and approximately parallel sides and having in its rear side a notch, a rocker having a forked arm which embraces and lies against the side of said nut and is provided with apin eX- tending between the sides of said fork and lying in the notch in the nut, and mechanism connecting said rocker with the steering- Wheels of the vehicle, substantiallyas specified.

5. In steering mechanism for moter-vehicles, the combination of an inclined bearing sleeve secured to the running-gear, a shaft rotatably mounted in said sleeve and having at its upper end means whereby the shaft may be turned and having on its lower end below said sleeve a quick-pitch screw, with a nut upon the threaded end of said shaft and having in its rear side a notch, a rocker having a forked arm which embraces the sides of said nut and is provided with a pin which enters the notch in the nut, said rocker having also an angularly-disposed operating-arm, a bellcrank lever pivoted concentrically with the pivot of one of the steering-wheel axles, a link connecting the angle-armof the rocker with one of the arms of this angle-lever, and means connecting the other arm of the lastnamed angle-lever with the said steeringwheel axle, substantially as specified.

6. In steering mechanism for motor-vehicles, the combination of a bearing-sleeve secured to the running-gear, a shaft rrotatably mounted in said sleeve, said shaft being made in two sections pivoted together on a transverse pivot near the upper end of the shaft, a sleeve slidable upon the upper section of the shaft and adapted to embrace the joint between the two sections, an external shoulder on said upper shaft-section, and an internal shoulder on the sleeve, a spring within the sleeve around the shaft-section and thrusting against said two shoulders,'substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS P. MOOERS.

Witnesses:

L. H. KITTREDGE, CHAS. W. E HRKE.

ICC

IIC 

